Review: Nebador #4 - Flight Training - J. Z. Colby

Well hello there!

I'm back with the Nebador Series. I can't tell you how much I adore this series!

I'm divided, I'm glad it goes to book 8 (and who knows, maybe more), but I'm sad it'll take long for them to be out (2014 for book 8). But hey, at least it's no Song of Ice and Fire, taking 5 or more years between books :)

I finished book 4, "Flight Training" and Book 5 "Back to the Stars" but I started writing this review while I was still reading book 5, since I was starting to mix them up.

Author J. Z. Colby has been nice to send me a copy of the latest two books, after I reviewed the previous ones, so I must thank him deeply.

We find our crew right where we left them at The Selection, stopped at the desert, starting their real training. They already know well their beloved ship Manessa and their captain, Ilika, but now it's time for some real learning.

Altitute and movement training get some of the crew members spilling their guts - and not on the talking way. Also, all of our friends have their own issues to solve, including fear of heights, fear of the dark, fear of closed spaces and so on.

Kibi considers to run away. Mati thinks about going back to one of her previous choices. Rini makes a bad mistake, but makes the right decision, in the end.

With this Flight Training, we get to see our crew in action, solving puzzles and knowing more about their home world. Aside from that, we get a pretty big scare in one part, but they work it out.

As Ilika is, we are proud of our little crew members. We are happy to see how much they learnt and grew and we are sure Ilika did the right choice, they were the best he could've found.

I am considering to read Book 1 (The Test) again, as now I know what comes, I know who's who, I think I can appreciate it even more.

After going all over the world and  knowing some interesting points (the tallest mountain, the deepest ocean, some different cities), Manessa's crew flies out of the planet, into orbit. That's where we leave them and that's where we'll find them again on Book 5 - Back to the Stars.

I loved the book, as I loved most of the series (Book one had major potential but I had a hard time loving it, which is why I'm thinking of re-reading it), I thought that after they had learnt all those things and knew of the real shape, form and nature of Manessa and Ilika, there wasn't much more to learn and not much would happen - I was afraid the book could be a bit boring, since the characters were all pretty much developed.

Boy was I wrong.

The characters are nowhere near ready - as we all aren't. That was silly of me to think. They are only teenagers and young adults and they have a lot of personal and professional development to work through, Ilika included.

I was sad that we don't get to see the previous characters anymore, I thought, all the time, we'd get a glimpse of Buna, Toli, Neti and Misa, but I guess the author is leaving it for young writers and readers to write their own short stories, like the ones published along with the series books.

You can find Nebador Book Four: Flight Training on several shops in several different editions, see them here. 

Also, you can read my previous reviews of the series here: Book 1, Book 2 and Book 3.

Review: Sunrise Over Disney - by Bert

Hello readers!

I entered a giveaway for this book on Goodreads, and I ended up getting a copy for review, which I thank the author very much.

Technically, this book isn't by Bert, but by L.N. Smith (which is also a pen name, it seems). And yet, it IS Bert who writes it.

This is a complicated book. It's not properly fiction, but it is fiction. If you've read Sophie's World or anything by Jostein Gaarden you probably know what I mean - it is meant to teach people, but also fascinate and entertain.

The book tells the story of awakening, of learning and of the world today and tomorrow.

You only understand that if you went all the way through, it's impossible to understand before then. It has something to do with Disney, but not really. It is about Walt Disney, Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln and so many others, but what it is most about it us. Human beings. Normal and ordinary humans.

We start by meeting Bert and Mary, their two children Michael and MJ and the rest of the family, specially "Mom" and "Dad", Bert's parents, and Uncle Albert. We also hear about Mom and Dad's proposal to take the whole family to a Disney World trip, which they reluctantly accept - by Bert's incentive.

We get to know Disney World and it's history, as well as Walt Disney's history.

We discuss, along with the author, how can someone very prejudiced also be a good person and when or how cna we judge people without forgetting that we must consider their environment and time on history.

We end up keeping company to Bert while he learns and tries to decide what to do with his life - it's a difficult thing, for some people, I understand. On one hand, you want to keep on learning and learning and on the other, you must "grow up" and get a job, take up responsabilities... But, specially on the job department, you usually end up doing several of the same things over and over again, which kills the learning for you, and for some people, learning is much more important and much more interesting...

Bert says that there is so much that people should learn and they don't know even how to start. Things that may challenge their beliefs so he proposes that it's made into a Disney ride, where people have fun while learning and  if it so happens to be way too much in the way of their beliefs, they may dismiss it, as the entertaining experience it is - and it still might make its way into their subconscious mind.

I found it to be a very entertaining book, while teaching, which is something I love. It is a "not so easy" book, while it's not hard, it's just definitely not a summer afternoon reading.

You can buy the book here.

Review: The Phantom's Legacy: Family Secrets - Ann M. Kraft

Well hello there!

I've reviewed Ann Kraft's work before, The Opera Ghost Lives and The Red Diamond of Nadirijna.

After reading The Phantom's Legacy: Family Secrets I can tell, for sure, that Ann is an amazing author, with lovable characters and deep family plots. On the other hand, I believe that her being amazing tends to let me down on sequels. I've been slightly put down by The Red Diamond of Nadirijna and now Ann shows me just how amazing she is, again, which makes me think the problem isn't me, it is that Erik on that book really just isn't quite as cool.

The Phantom's Legacy - Family Secrets is a contemporary book, where we meet Amanda Slaughter, a history teacher, who loves antiques. She ends up buying a dresser that is full with old papers and evidence on a long lost mistery.

Her "old stuff" must have a story, they can't be just old stuff, so the owner of these "old stuff" agrees to let her buy a piano, that just happens to come with the owner's great-grandchild, Ayrik.

The plot develops sort of the same way that The Opera Ghost Lives - they meet, they work together to discover some of the plot hidden by a deceased family member of one of the two and they end up finding out much more about others and themselves than they intended to.

I can't speak much more about it or I would be spoiling it, but I must say that I fell in love with the characters. Ann sure knows how to build loveable people, with flawed backgrounds and definitely confusing families.

We, who read the previous books, know in a second that Ayrik is Erik and Amalie's descendant, Louisa's family. But I'd be a bit happier if there was someone in the family with the same deformity as Erik's, maybe not on their face, I don't know, since it was supposed to be passed around by family/blood line (as stated on Book #1 - The Opera Ghost Lives), so it would make sense that on a large family, at least someone... But it's ok.

Reading this book we learn more about Louisa and how her life went after those childhood years we saw, how she grew up to build a wonderful and loving family.

Most of all, you can read the first chapter HERE, buy the book autographed HERE or on Amazon HERE.

Interview - Dorota Skrzypek of SEX, LIFE, & HANNAH

Hello readers! Today I bring you Dorota Skrzypek, the author of Sex, Life, & Hannah "a book series about a 20-something year old girl living in Los Angeles, and her dating misadventures after The Ex breaks up with her. It is, quite literally, about the sex and life of Hannah as she struggles to find The One and figure out whether he even exists."

It's sort of lilke Sex and the City, but with a bit more sex, from what I've seen ;)

We'll have a giveaway early next week for a Sex, Life, & Hannah Book Club Membership, which gives access to the two finished book and the two that will be released this year, so stay tuned!

You can also read more about it, and some excerpts here: http://www.sexlifeandhannah.com/, including the purchase buttons!

Thank you, Dorota, for your time and patience with me, I hope you enjoyed this interview, I was very happy with your answers, I loved some of your answers and I'm putting your books on my e-book list, which is, unfortunately, even longer than my "paper book" list, but I'll get to them, I'm sure.

Hi Dorota, is that your real name or a pen name?

I wish I’d thought of a cool pen name, but no, Dorota is my real name.

Is this your first book(s)?

Actually no. The very first book I published was a graphic novel called The Dentist and The Toothfairy. I wrote the short story, and an amazing artist out of Montreal, Canada did all the artwork.

Tell us a bit about your writing and your latest book and a bit about the sequels that will come this year.

My writing tends to focus on relationships, and often their downfall. I am hugely fascinated by human relationships of all sorts; friendships, lovers, partners, husbands and wives, what makes people click, fall in love or lust, what makes people part ways, and I can’t seem to write about anything else at the moment.

The latest book in the Sex, Life, & Hannah book series is basically another nail in the coffin that is Hannah’s love life. She continues to make awkward decisions about the men in her life, pin all her hopes on nostalgia and passionate romps in the sack, and acquiesce to the pressures of what society thinks your life should look like by the time you reach your late twenties. But don’t worry; just when Hannah starts to believe all relationships are doomed, she has the epiphany that all women should have: men, marriage, and babies aren’t going to make you happy, only you can make yourself happy, and you need to start living your life that way instead of chasing some expectation.

When did you start writing?

I got my first journal in elementary school; first grade to be exact. I was basically a journal writer from then on, until I realized I wanted to write books, which didn’t occur until my mid-twenties.

What made you start writing?

Not sure exactly why I felt compelled to start or keep writing in my journals. At first I think I just wanted to keep track of what was happening in my life, and then it became a form of therapy for a long time. I don’t write as much now in my journal, maybe because I spend a lot of time blogging, or maybe I fixed all the problems I thought I had…

How did you choose your style, the genre of writing?

I write in two very distinct ways. The first way sounds very much like the fairytales I used to read before bed, the second sounds a lot like I’m still writing in my journal.

How spicy can we expect the books to be? How explicit?

I like to be emotionally and sexually explicit in my Sex, Life, & Hannah books without crossing the line of pornography, because I want my writing to feel relatable. I want to express the thoughts that sometimes we’re too afraid to say, and I want the characters to do some things that we might be too afraid to do.

Are the books in any way inspired by your life (at any point of life)?

Yes, absolutely, especially the first book in the Sex, Life, & Hannah series. When I wrote that first manuscript I literally had my journal open right next to my computer. That first book is really about my first major heartbreak.

Is there prejudice, among bloggers, among other authors, among critics, anyone, for the "spicy"/sex-related genre?

Probably. I think some people won’t even go to my website because the word “sex” is in the domain name. But to me, the word “sex” encompasses so much more than just the physical act. Our sexuality makes up so much of the person we present to the world, and that is more my intent of the use of that word in the title of my book series.

Why did you decide to publish your books online?

I am of that in-between generation that grew up on print books, but has seen the publishing world change dramatically over the last five years. When I first thought about publishing books I didn’t think eBooks stood a chance, and now I find myself reading books on my Droid Kindle before I think about buying them. I also feel that having my books available online makes it easier for people all over the world to access them. 

What's your writing routine - do you like music on or not, do you have a special environment, etc.?

I like to think about the perfect song for the scene I’m about to write, and then put that song on repeat until I’m done. I can’t even imagine writing without music. It would be like watching a movie without music—impossible.

What are your plans for the future? Sequels, new books, new themes, etc. (especially after the next 2 books of the series)?

After I finish the fourth book in the Sex, Life, & Hannah series, I am planning on doing another book with the artist in Montreal. It will sort of be a sequel to The Dentist and The Toothfairy. I am also planning on writing a short script and shooting the movie, hopefully in Poland, in 2013.

Anything else you want to add?

Anyone that enjoys a good romance series will not be disappointed by Sex, Life, & Hannah.

Unread Interview - Brian Thompson

Hello people! Please welcome Brian Thompson for today's Unread Interview. He is promoting The Anarchists, his new book which will be released in April 2012. It seems like an amazing book, I've read the first chapter and I am ansious to read more, since it is a sci fi book with some political/cultural twist that seems to interest me deeply, it's sitting on my to read list :)
Unread Interview is a series where I feature authors whose books I couldn't accept for review because of time or logistics issues.


Below, the interview :)

Tell us a bit about your book (s).

The Anarchists is set in the year 2050, where four people experience tragic loss. A supernatural force offers them a chance to improve their lives. Three of them take it and one has to be "convinced." They return to reality and find out their benefactor has become a global threat. Their decisions either save the planet or destroy it.

Have you ever wanted to be a writer? When did you start writing "seriously"?

I've always written stories. I wrote mostly poetry in high school. In my senior year, both in high school and college, I took creative writing courses that changed my life. That's when I discovered a calling to write books. 

Do you read much? What kind of books do you usually read?

I read as much as my schedule allows. I like a little bit of everything. I have Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy), Sula and Beloved (Toni Morrison) on my shelf; those are classics. I dabble in allegorical fantasy, like The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. If I want a laugh, I turn to Young Adult fiction.

What are your favorite or least favorite scenes to write?

My favorite scenes to write are the ones when I can inject comedy into them. The focus of my books are mainly serious, so adding jokes, physical slip ups, or playful banter helps lighten the mood. I'd say my least favorite to write are the ones heavy on exposition - it's hard for me to tell whether or not I'm telling too much instead of showing.

Do you relate more to any of your characters? Why?

In this book, I would say I relate to Micah the most. Micah is an agnostic scientist and I am a Christian author. We couldn't be much more different there. But, he loves his girlfriend and children, and the financial struggles of his family keep him awake at night. I've been there. 

Which genre do you feel it would be a challenge to write?

For me, romance would be the most difficult. There are love stories in all of my books, but they are never front-and-center. They are usually lingering in the background, giving depth to my characters.

What inspires you? And how's your writing environment - music, place, etc.?

I know it sounds kind of weird, but reading the Bible inspires me. Every kind of story you could ever want to read is in there. For action/adventure, there's King David. Romance is in Song of Solomon. Inspirational stories are in the New Testament. The fantastical elements in my second book, The Revelation Gate, are all biblical - just WAY exaggerated. 

My writing environment is downstairs, in my office. I have a calendar with deadlines hanging in front of my desk, and when I'm writing a novel, I plot it in Post-It notes on the wall. For music, I listen to old school rap, R&B, contemporary and classic rock, gospel, classic jazz or Christian. The music doesn't have to match the mood of the piece I'm writing, but sometimes it does.

What would you say about the book - your words, no blurbs! - to convince someone to read your book?

The Anarchists is a page turner with a complex, but engaging, story line. It's a piece of dynamic storytelling, where a small group of people control the fate of the planet. Even if speculative fiction makes you itch, give it a shot. The characters are endearing or hateful, kind of self-involved or selfless; all are deeply flawed.   

What are your plans for the future, writing-wise? New books, sequels, publishing deals, etc.

No sequels to The Anarchists - it ends in a very, neatly-wrapped, decisive conclusion. However, I am writing a sequel now - Gates of Kuzimu - which is the sequel to The Revelation Gate, my second book. It will be a trilogy, with the third book (hopefully!) coming out in 2014.